Charity criticises plan for £35k-a-year youth mayor

Neil Charlick, from Gillingham Street Angels, said the idea of a youth mayor was "madness"

A charity has said plans to spend £35,000 a year on a youth mayor for part of Kent are "madness".

Medway Council hopes a youth mayor will inspire children in the area to get involved in politics and their local communities.

If agreed, it would involve hiring an engagement officer at £33,000 per year, plus spending £2,000 on marketing, travel and subsistence.

Neil Charlick, chief executive of the charity Gillingham Street Angels, said he could "not make sense" of the move when there were greater problems for children in Medway.

As well as the £35,000, a further £1,790 would be spent on a one-off purchase of mayoral robes, a collar and a hat for the young mayor, as well as £900 on medals for the young mayor and deputies.

No details were given about where the money would come from, although the council is said to be considering a number of options including outside funding, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Charlick said: "What on earth can a young mayor seriously do for children whose parents can't afford to feed them or clothe them properly?

"We see hundreds of people, including young kids, queuing up at our food banks because they're in such dire straits, and we give out thousands of items of free school uniform because people are so stretched they can't afford them."

Councillor George Perfect, leader of Medway Conservatives, said he fully supported the role but thought the council should find outside funding for it.

"This project will give junior school aged children the opportunity to engage with civic life," he said.

A decision will be made on 17 December.